Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Deep Cleaning List

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I have had several requests for me to share my deep cleaning list. This is my list I work from that is above and beyond my normal, weekly cleaning. Just because it is on this list doesn't mean I only do it as I work through this list. One example would be floor boards. As I deep clean each room, I clean the floor boards. But if I notice the floor boards need to be cleaned at other times, I do it then, also.

When we lived in a small house, I would clean the whole house by category. So one day, I would clean all the windows in the house. I could do it that way because it was quite small. Now, I clean by room.

Back when I had one child, I cycled through this list rather quickly (plus we had the small house then). Now, it takes me much longer to get through it all. I just do it as I can. I try really hard to just accept this "season of my life." My house isn't always as perfectly clean as I might want it to be, but I don't want to sacrifice time with my children just to get sparkling ceiling fans, you know? So I do what I can and take solace knowing that some day, I might have time to clean as I want to. And at that point, I will probably just miss my kids :).

I also heard a wise tid-bit from a church leader recently. He said his wife was always apologizing to guests for their messy house. He found this odd because he thought the house was clean. He finally realized she was always comparing her house to how it was pre-children. He told her she couldn't have a house with five children in it as clean as one with no children. I loved that thought because I think I chase a similar notion in my head.

Okay, this is a long list and I really never consider it perfect or complete. So take it for what it is and make it your own if you so desire.

Deep Cleaning: Kitchen

• Organize Pantry

• Organize Cupboards

• Organize Drawers

• Wipe down inside of cupboards

• Wipe down/oil outside of cupboards

• Clean inside of fridge

• Clean inside of freezer

• Clean outside of refrigerator

• Clean inside of dishwasher

• Clean outside of Dishwasher

• Clean inside of microwave

• Clean outside of microwave

• Clean Oven

• Clean stove top

• Clean outside of oven

• Clean all items on counter

• Scrub floor by hand

• Clean all frames and wall hangings

• Clean window

• Clean blinds and window sill

• Clean door

• Clean running boards

• Clean garbage can

• Wash hot pads

• Wash rug

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean high chair and/or booster really well

• Wipe down all of table and chairs

• Clean door moldings

• Clean curtains

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean vents

Deep Cleaning: Piano Area

• Clean window

• Clean blinds

• Clean window sill

• Clean all frames and wall hangings

• Clean mirrors

• Clean running boards

• Wash pillows as needed

• Shake out runners/clean as needed

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Organize piano bench

• Clean/oil piano

• Clean lamp shades

• Febreeze

• Scrub floor by hand

• Organize hutch

• Clean vents

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Dust hutch really well

Deep Cleaning: Formal Area

• Clean windows

• Clean blinds

• Clean window sills

• Clean doors

• Clean curtains

• Clean vents

• Clean all frames and wall hangings

• Clean all mirrors

• Clean all lampshades

• Clean running boards

• Wash pillows/runners as needed

• Shake out runners

• Vacuum couches

• Clean couches

• Febreeze

• Dust tables really well

• Clean rugs as needed

• Clean front door

• Clean outlets/light switches

• Organize closet

• Scrub floor by hand

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean door moldings

Deep Cleaning: Office

• Clean window

• Clean window sill

• Clean blinds

• Clean all frames/wall hangings

• Clean mirrors

• Clean moldings

• Clean computer monitors well

• Clean computers well

• Organize printer table

• Organize computer table

• Organize desk

• Dust computer table

• Dust desk

• Clean garbage can

• Organize file cabinets

• Dust file cabinets

• Organize closet

• Clean closet shelves

• Clean doors

• Clean door moldings

• Clean/Sanitize switches and outlets

• Clean chairs

• Febreeze

• Clean lamp shades

• Clean vent

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean printer

Deep Cleaning: Craft Room

• Clean window

• Clean window sill

• Clean blinds

• Clean moldings

• Clean door

• Clean closet doors

• Clean door moldings

• Clean base moldings

• Febreeze

• Clean garbage can

• Clean chair

• Organize closet

• Clean closet shelves

• Organize black cabinet

• Clean black cabinet

• Clean ironing board cover

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean iron

• Organize file cabinet

• Organize drawers

• Organize sewing desk

• Dust sewing desk well

• Clean lamp shades

• Clean vent

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Service machines as needed

Deep Cleaning: Guest Bathroom

• Scrub floor

• Scrub grout

• Vinegar on shower head/faucets

• Clean shower

• Clean curtain rod

• Clean rod rings

• Clean shower curtains

• Clean rugs

• Clean base moldings

• Clean door moldings

• Organize medicine cabinet

• Organize drawers

• Organize cabinet

• Oil wood

• Clean garbage can

• Clean door

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Deep clean toilet

• Clean soap dispenser/refill

• Clean all metal

• Clean vent

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean frames/wall hangings

Deep Cleaning: Master Bedroom

• Clean windows

• Clean window sills

• Clean blinds

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean curtains

• Wash bedding as needed

• Febreeze

• Organize closet

• Clean doors

• Clean base moldings

• Clean door moldings

• Clean bookcase

• Organize dresser

• Organize cedar chest

• Clean all frames and wall hangings

• Organize vanity

• Clean vanity

• Clean lamp shades

• Oil wood

• Organize night stands

• Organize under bed

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean vents

Deep Cleaning: Master Bathroom

• Clean window

• Clean window sill

• Clean blinds

• Clean curtains

• Clean door moldings

• Clean door

• Clean basemoldings

• Clean curtain rod

• Clean rod rings

• Clean shower curtains

• Scrub grout on floor

• Scrub grout in shower

• Vinegar shower head/faucet

• Deep clean toilet

• Clean rugs

• Organize drawers

• Organize cabinet

• Clean garbage can

• Oil wood

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean soap dispenser/refill

• Clean all metal

• Clean vent

• Clean frames/wall hangings

• Clean toilet brush

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean plunger

Deep Cleaning: Upstairs Hall

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean door moldings

• Clean doors

• Clean base moldings

• Organize linnen closet

• Oil banister

• Vacuum stairs well

• Clean railing

• Clean frames/wall hangings

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean vents

Deep Cleaning: Laundry Room

• Clean garbage can

• Wipe down washer

• Wipe down dryer

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Organize cabinets

• Wipe down shelves

• Oil wood

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Dust

• Sweep

• Clean grout

• Clean floor

• Clean doors

• Clean moldings

Deep Cleaning: Family Room

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean door moldings

• Clean doors

• Clean base moldings

• Clean frames/wall hangings

• Clean vents

• Vacuum couches

• Clean couches

• Vacuum lazy boy

• Clean lazy boy

• Clean shelves

• Organize shelves

• Organize blanket holder

• Organize book shelves

• Clean book shelves

• Organize coats/hats

• Organize entertainment center

• Oil wood

• Clean end table well

• Clean pillows/blankets as needed

• Clean rugs

• Clean electronics

• Clean grout

• Clean tile

• Clean window

• Clean window sill

• Clean blinds

• Febreeze

• Clean curtains

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Organize storage closet

• Clean shelves in storage closet

Deep Cleaning: Storage Room

• Clean door

• Organize shelves

• Sweep

• Clean shelves

Deep Cleaning: Downstairs Halls

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean door moldings

• Clean doors

• Clean base moldings

• Clean frames/wall hangings

• Clean vents

• Clean lighting fixtures

Deep Cleaning: Kid Bathroom

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean door moldings

• Clean door

• Clean base moldings

• Clean frames/wall hangings

• Clean vents

• Clean garbage can

• Clean toys

• Organize drawers

• Clean drawers

• Organize cupboards

• Clean cupboards

• Clean curtain rod

• Clean rod rings

• Wash shower curtains

• Clean potty chair

• Wash rugs

• Clean small tub

• Clean all metal

• Vinegar shower head/faucet

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Scrub tile

• Scrub floor

Deep Cleaning: Kid's Room

• Clean/sanitize outlets and light switches

• Clean door moldings

• Clean door

• Clean closet doors

• Clean base moldings

• Clean frames/wall hangings

• Clean vents

• Clean window

• Clean window sill

• Clean blinds

• Clean curtains

• Clean garbage can

• Clean chair rail

• Clean molding boxes

• Clean walls

• Organize closet

• Clean closest shelves

• Organize dresser

• Clean dresser

• Clean lamp shade

• Febreeze

• Organize cupboard

• Clean cupboard shelves

• Clean outside of cupboard

• Sanitize toys

• Clean all toys as needed

• Clean all blankets/pillows as needed

• Change batteries as needed

• Clean lighting fixtures

• Clean bed

• Oil wood

• Take out small clothes

• Clean bedding as needed

So that gives you an idea of how I do those things. Hopefully it gives you some inspiration. Do things as you can, but don't go crazy over it.

Oh my gosh. I have a lot to catch up on! That is a great list. Just gotta try and fit it in where you can when you've got the little ones at home. Like you said, missing out on a learning or bonding moment isn't worth having clean outlets.

I really like this, I too have to be careful not to overwhelm myself by trying to get the house perfect all at once and keep it that way with a toddler and as a working mom. I will definately use this list along with daily chores that I cycle though using my email calendar (its handy to remind my husband of chores too, since he's home before me) Thank you!

A great list! I can totally relate to the fact that it's hard to keep a home up the same way the way I could before kids. It's just a fact of life. I have hired a deep cleaning service every once a year or so. It helps so much!